Tile or analogous simulation



April 5, 1932.

s. GREENEBAUM 1,852,715

TILE OR ANALOGOUS SIMULATTON Filed March 7, 1930 Y7 Y7 T7 T7 W mwwhoc Patented Apr. 5, 1932 UNITED STATES SAMUEL GREENEIBAUM, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI TILE OB. ANALOGOUS SIMULATION Application filed March 7,

The invention is an improved surface covering, designed primarily for use on walls, ceilings, and floors but not restricted to any particular field of application. Like my prior United States Patents 1,657,159 and 1,706,661, the covering is of sheet form, yet provides an effective simulation of separate tiles or the like individually laid with mortar joints between them, and while I will herein refer to tile simulations or use similar language, it is to be understood that such language is not to be construed as limiting, for the invention may be manufactured to not only simulate various kinds of articles commonly known as tile, but may equally well represent brick, mosaic, stone, marble, terra-cotta, etc., regardless of shape, color, surface texture, etc. Moreover, while I will herein refer to the tile units assembled into sheet form, it is to be understood that the proportions of the sheet may be varied even to the extent of becoming a strip. Hence,

this language also is not to be considered as restricting. It is the principal aim of the invention to provide for more economic manufacture of the covering from a plurality of small units which may be easily, conveniently and inexpensively constructed, and readily assembled at the factory to provide sheets of any desired size or sizes, limited only by the requirements for convenient handling.

A further aim is to provide an improved covering which requires materially less pointing up between tile simulations, provision being made whereby mere forcing of the covering against fresh plaster, cement or the like used to anchor it, will cause filling of the majority of the plastic-receiving spaces between tiles.

With the foregoing in View, the invention resides in the novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, description being accomplished by reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front elevation showing a portion of a surface covering sheet constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged rear elevation show- 1930. Serial No. 434,137.

ing two of the units connected with each other.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view on line 4+4 of Fi 2, showing the covering secured in place.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the units separated from the others.

The preferred construction has been illusw trated and while such construction will be rather specifically explained, it is to be understood that within the scope of the invention as claimed, numerous variations may be made. v

The covering is manufactured and marketed in sheet or strip form, a portion of one of the sheets being illustrated in Fig. 1. This sheet is composed of a plurality of flat tile-simulating units 6 of any desired mate- 7 rial, size, shape and ornamental characteristics, and such other assembled tile units in strip formation which may be used for base or cap mouldings, cornices, etc., and the units of which may be held together and interlocked in similar manner to that described for the sheets. The simulations 6 have their edges 7 spaced apart to provide 7 plastic-receiving slots 8 between them, and H this relation between the simulations, is maintained by tongues 9 cemented or otherwise secured in recesses 10, each of the simulations 6 being provided with any desired number of the tongues and recesses located 7 as may be desired. The tongues 9 are in- 35 tegral with the simulations 6 and thejfront side 11 of each tongue is spaced rearwardly from the tile-simulating face of the simulation 6 by which it is carried. Each recess a 10 is of slightly shorter length than said tongue, thus providing for uniform spacing of the simulations 6 so that the slots 8 will be of uniform widths throughout the area of the covering. Preferably, although not necessarily, the tongues 9 and the recesses 10 are of dove-tail form to produce an efiective inter-lock between the simulations 6, thereby augmenting the strength'of the cement or the like used for securing the tongues in the recesses. Rearward spacing of the front sides 11 of the tongues 9 from the front faces of the simulations 6, provides for short grooves 12 between the edges 7 at the front sides of said tongues, said grooves communicating with the slots 8 to receive plastic. These slots and grooves are so disposed that they jointly surround the tile simulations 6. Hence, when the covering is applied and the slots and grooves are filled with a plastic, the covering presents the appearance of individual tiles separately laid with mortar joints between them. By preference, the rear corners of the simulations 6 are beveled as shown at 13, providing for more efiective receptions and anchorage of the plastic between said simulations.

In the preferred manner of applying the covering to a wall 14 or other surface, a rather wet layer 15 of plaster, cement or the like is applied to said surface and then the covering is forced against said layer 15. By so doing, some of the plaster or the like is extruded to fill the slots 8, surplus being wiped off and pointing up being then done with a suitable tool. Some of the plastic I extruded into the slots 8 will run and totally or partially fill some of the grooves 12, and any not filled may be filled and pointed up with separate operations,

If desired, the covering may be nailed in place, the nails being driven through the tongues 9 with their heads disposed in the grooves 12, so that said heads will eventually be covered by the pointing material which is to be applied in said grooves and in the slots 8.

The invention possesses numerous advantages over prior tile simulations of sheet form, heretofore provided. Tremendous saving in the cost of dies or molds is effected, for the reasonthat instead of having a special die or mold for each pattern the size of the whole sheet, the die would need be only the size of the tile unit. In assembling these units into sheet form, unlimited selectivity is afforded in color combinations, variegations, etc. and special units of embossed or other appropriate design may be inserted wherever desired. Variations in pattern may also be effectively worked out with ease. Any sheet may be effectively interlocked with the-next adjacent sheet or sheets while applying the covering, the sheets are more easily cut into smaller sizes by merely sawing or otherwise cutting through 'thetongues 9, the mortar joints between the tile simulations are of greater front ;to rear dimension and more tenaciously anchored to prevent possibility of falling out,and after application and use of the covering, any-tile simulations which may become damaged or broken, may be re moved and others readily substituted.

Attention is again invited to the fact that numerous variationsmay be made within the scope of the'invention as claimed, forsuch characteristics as the number, location, size and shape of the interlocking tongues and recesses, the composition of the materials used in making the tile units, the size, shape or form of the units themselves, the character of finish of the tile surfaces, etc., are relatively unimportant and may be changed in numerous desired ways. Moreover, attention is again invited to the fact that the invention is not restricted to simulating articles such as those commonly known as tile, for it may equally well simulate brick, mosaic, stone, marble, terra-cotta, etc.

I claim:

An article of manufacture consisting of a unitary sheet adapted to be shipped as a unit and adapted forapplication as a unit against fresh plastic, said sheet having spaced slots opening through both its front and rear faces and adapted to receive some ofthe plastic when the covering is forced into place, the front side of said sheet being provided with slot-connecting grooves also adapted to receive plastic, said slots and grooves being disposed to jointly surround individual areas at the front of the sheet, whereby the applied sheet will give the appearance of individually laid tiles and mortar joints between them.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my si nature.

' AMUEL GREENEBAUM. 

